Jon Cruddas: Future Labour government could hold referendum on Europe

A future Labour government may stage a referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union, according to Jon Cruddas.

The influential MP is giving serious consideration to the issue of the country’s long-term relationship with Europe as part of his role overseeing Ed Miliband’s policy review.

Jon Cruddas has hinted Labour may back an EU referendum (Getty Images)

David Cameron is already facing demands from Conservative MPs and UKIP supporters to allow the public to have their say on Europe.

The prime minister may find he also comes under pressure from Labour on the subject as the next general election approaches, as Mr Cruddas has hinted a referendum could be included in the party’s manifesto.

‘It’s something we will be looking at in depth in the policy review,’ he told the Daily Telegraph.

‘At some stage there is going to have to be some resolution of what our relationship is here and what format that takes. It could be a referendum.

‘We have said the time is not right as regards a referendum on Europe given the economics ricocheting around the eurozone. Obviously our position needs to be developed over the next period.’

News that some figures within the Opposition are warming to the idea of a referendum comes just a day after Mr Cameron revealed he favoured re-examining the country’s relationship with Europe after the next election.

Speaking during a visit to Brazil, the prime minister said that while he believed it was in Britain’s interests to be in the EU, there was a case to make changes to the arrangement.

‘In the next parliament, I think there will be opportunities for a fresh settlement and for new consent to that settlement.’ he said.

‘The euro is a currency with 17 different countries. I think, increasingly, one currency will mean one economic policy.

‘They are going to change and that will give us opportunities for changing our relationship with Europe.’